Chapter XXI (3)

I have been in London a month, and have had an interview with the commissioners of the board of emigration, Mr. Elliot and Mr. Rogers. They entered fully into the subject of the Emigrant Surgeon’s Bill. I told them your opinion, and gave them among other documents the report of the expenses of whaling vessels for sickness; they regard it as a very important statement in our favor. I believe them both to be in earnest, and the more especially as they requested me to procure for them various kinds of information relative to the supply of surgeons having taken out diplomas in Liverpool, Dublin, New York, etc. Of course I have lost no time in setting the requisite machinery to work. The commissioners frankly stated that the shipowners would make the same difficulties that Mr. Grinnell had conjured up on the other side. As the bill will have to go through parliament, of course it will be some time before I hear anything from the board; but as soon as I do, I shall hasten to inform you who have been so valuable an ally to me.

Accompanied by my husband, I had afterwards an interview with Lord Palmerston, and after showing him the letter which I wrote in January last from Washington, on the subject of Pakenham’s unfitness for his position there, I fortified the report by several anecdotes. The secretary looked perplexed, heard me most patiently, and when I had ended my story, endeavored as well as he could to defend his representative. As far as respectful politeness allowed me to go, I entirely differed from him, and I said that he was quite unequal in capacity to the men he had to deal with; that he knew nothing of commerce; received neither the Americans nor the English at his house; had quarrelled with the chairman of foreign relations in the House of Representatives; and in fact that this government should send one of their foremost men to Washington with rank, wealth, good manners, and ability to carry him through.

Lord Palmerston then observed:

“Well, they have got more than they bargained for.”

Mrs. M.—They will have the whole of Oregon very soon, my lord.

Lord P.—Do you really think so?

Mrs. M.—Certainly, and the Pope is doing all he can to help them. He has just divided the Oregon into an archbishopric and eight bishoprics, and the Irish and German emigrants will pour in by thousands.

Lord P.—I had not observed that. Is it so, indeed?

Mrs. M.—Undoubtedly.

Here laughing, I rose to take leave. The viscount was extremely courteous, and expressed much pleasure at having made my acquaintance. It is somewhat strange that I should have had the opportunity of expressing these sentiments to yourself and Mrs. Walker in Washington, in the presence of the British minister, and also in England to the secretary for foreign affairs.

And now, my dear Mr. Buchanan, I am going to my old trade of begging favors, and have still a long story to tell you by way of introduction. I have wished to prepare a work with the title of “An English Woman’s Opinions of America,” in compliance with the gratifying wishes of my friends both here and in America; but I cannot get this ready for some months, for you know I have eleven children, and found much to do for them on my return, besides I have had much to do for my husband in the way of business, and the daily congratulations of my numerous friends here to receive, and to return.

In the meantime, however, I am trying to get ready the “Statesmen of America,” that is, my own sketches of their characters, etc., with extracts from their works or speeches. While reading over to my husband the two charming letters you have written to me, it occurred to me that I would ask your permission to place them before my friends here to show that the American statesmen are as elegant in their private correspondence as they are able in their public documents. I have made a mark with a pencil through the opening of the paragraph relating to Mr. Calhoun; but I should dearly like to publish your opinion of him. Mr. Panizzi of the British Museum Library is in love with these letters, and he is head authority in all literary matters. I enclose them for your perusal, because I have thought you might wish to see them before granting me permission to publish them; but whether you grant me this permission or decline it, pray restore me the letters. I cherish with jealous care every memorial of those who made me so happy when among them.

My husband begs that you will accept his most grateful and respectful thanks for all your goodness to me. Forgive me, dear Mr. Buchanan, this unconscionable letter and its long weariness, and believe me always most respectfully and affectionately your friend,

SARAH M. MAURY.

[FROM MADAME CALDERON.[108]]

NEWPORT, August 1st, 1846.

DEAR MR. BUCHANAN:—

As I see a letter for Calderon this morning in your handwriting, I think it as well to let you know that he has gone to New York on business, in case there should be any delay in his answer. Calderon tells us that there is some chance of your coming to New York, which I hope is the case. I am anxious to inquire into the progress of your domestic affairs, and whether I have more chance than I formerly had of finding Mrs. Buchanan when I call at your house. I think, now that you have settled Oregon and the tariff, and are in a fair way of disposing of Mexico, it is time for you to look at home, and bring about the annexation of a certain fair neighbor of ours. Newport is very cool: we have not had a single really _hot_ day. I hope you have stood the heat of Washington better than Calderon did. We are living very quietly here as to society, but with bathing, riding, fishing, etc., pass our time very agreeably. We are at this moment _nine_ ladies in one house, and _no_ gentlemen.

Pray remember me to Mr. Pleasonton and his family the next time you go there, and especially to my friend Miss Clementina. My sister and nieces beg their best regards, and I remain

Yours very truly and respectfully,

FANNY CALDERON DE LE BARCA.

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Footnote 97:

It should in justice be stated that, after it was known to Mr. Webster
in the winter of 1843–44, that a project was on foot for bringing in
Texas by treaty, he, not being at that time in any public position,
made great efforts to arouse a popular opposition to it in New
England, but without any success. It was not until after the executive
Government had become committed to the government and people of Texas
to promote the annexation by Mr. Calhoun’s plan of legislative action,
and after this plan had been submitted to Congress, that there began
to be any considerable opposition to it in the North, coming from
organized popular meetings. During the Presidential election of 1844,
although the Democratic party made the annexation of Texas one of the
measures to be expected from it in case of the election of its
candidate, the Whig party, in consequence of the attitude of their
candidate, Mr. Clay, on this subject, was not in a position to oppose
the annexation on account of the slavery existing in that country.
(Compare the detailed account of the annexation of Texas in the Life
of Mr. Webster, at the passages referred to in the Index, _verb._
“Texas.”)

Footnote 98:

This was not only the view entertained by President Polk and his
political party, but it was the deliberate opinion of Mr. Webster, who
may be said to have represented all the grounds of opposition to the
measure. He re-entered the Senate on the 5th of March, 1845, four days
after the passage of the joint resolutions for the annexation of
Texas. On the 11th he wrote a letter to his son, in which he expressed
with precision the whole of his objections to this measure, and
decidedly maintained that Mexico could now have no just cause for war,
if the measure should be accomplished. He exonerated Mr. Polk and his
cabinet from any desire to provoke a war with Mexico, and in regard to
foreign intervention he said: “Nor do I believe that the principal
nations of Europe, or any of them, will instigate Mexico to war. The
policy of England is undoubtedly pacific. She cannot want Texas
herself; and though her desire would be to see that country
independent, yet it is not a point she would seek to carry by
disturbing the peace of the world. But she will, doubtless, now take
care that Mexico shall not cede California, or any part thereof, to
us. You know my opinion to have been, and now is, that the port of San
Francisco would be twenty times as valuable to us as all Texas.” (See
the entire letter, Life of Mr. Webster, II., 249.)

Footnote 99:

Mr. C. A. Wickliffe, who was sent by Mr. Buchanan to Texas as a
confidential agent, and from whose report I have taken the principal
facts above related, writing from Galveston on the 6th of May, said:
“The subject of the terms of annexation, or the result of the measure
when Congress meets, no longer constitutes the topic of conversation
among the people. They speak of this as a subject settled. The
all-engrossing topic among them is the provisions of their
constitution to be adopted. Upon this subject I have been gratified to
listen to the views and opinions of many intelligent men. The deep
interest they feel in the work of making a constitution which shall
secure to Texas and her citizens the blessings of a good government
and social order, gives high hopes of their future destiny. I
undertake to predict that you will be surprised when you shall see
their constitution, emanating from a people of whose disorder so much
has been said.”

Footnote 100:

Prussian Minister.

Footnote 101:

Secretary of War.

Footnote 102:

John Slidell of New Orleans, at this time a Representative in Congress
from Louisiana, was the same person who became famous all over the
world, along with his colleague, Mr. Mason, during our civil war,
after they were seized from on board the British steam-packet Trent,
on their way as Confederate envoys to England, brought to the United
States, imprisoned, and afterwards released. Consult the Index,
_verb._ “Slidell.”

Footnote 103:

Colonel Taylor was promoted to the rank of major-general soon after
the first of his victories.

Footnote 104:

James Barbour of Virginia, Secretary of War under President John
Quincy Adams.

Footnote 105:

Afterwards governor of South Carolina during the first period of
secession.

Footnote 106:

This refers to the charges made by Mr. C. J. Ingersoll against Mr.
Webster. See the Life of Webster, Index, _verb._ “Ingersoll.”

Footnote 107:

Chief Justice Taney.

Footnote 108:

Wife of the Spanish Minister. She was a Scotch lady, _née_ Inglis.

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